Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. -- The University of New England shot 31-for-41 from the charity stripe and pulled away from a five-point halftime lead to a 68-51 The Commonwealth Coast Conference victory over Roger Williams University in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Campus Rec Center.

Sophomore Margo Russell (Madison, Maine) posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Nor'easters (17-4, 8-1 TCCC), who took 37 more free throw attempts than their opponents and out-scored RWU by 30 at the line. Russell, who averages 5.6 attempts per game, made 13 of 15 freebies.

Classmate Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) chipped in with 14 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks. Junior Carrie Bunnell (Barnet, Vt.) added 10 points, and sophomore Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) scored eight from the foul line to also finish with 10.

The Hawks (8-13, 4-5 TCCC) received a 16-point, nine-rebound effort from sophomore Ryan Weekes (Worcester, Mass.) in defeat. First-year Alexandria Lanieri (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) finished off a solid performance with 13 points, seven boards, four assists, and four blocks. Junior Nicole Atchue (North Grafton, Mass.) contributed 10 points.

UNE led 12-10 early on before seven straight points in just under three minutes gave Roger Williams its largest lead of the contest with 5:45 left in the first half.

The visitors responded with an 11-2 spurt in 1:53 to retake the lead. Paradis scored nine of her points during the stretch.

After baskets by Weekes and Lanieri tied things up at 23, a Paradis hoop and a three-point play from first-year Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) provided the Nor'easters with a 28-23 advantage at the break.

UNE extended the cushion to 13 (38-25) in the opening 4:20 of the second period. Russell tallied seven points during the middle of the run.

An 8-1 stretch by RWU brought the deficit down to seven (48-41) with just under five minutes to play. The margin hovered between seven and 10 points over the next few minutes, but the Hawks could not get any closer. The Nor'easters closed the game with the final nine points, all coming from the charity stripe.

Big Blue won despite shooting just 25.8 percent (17-for-66) from the field and 15.8 percent from deep (3 of 19). UNE did hold a 56-40 edge on the glass.

Roger Williams did not fair much better shooting the ball, converting 35.8 percent (24 of 67) overall and 18.2 percent (2-for-11) from three-point range.

Losers of four of their last five outings, the Hawks will look to get back on track Tuesday at home against Anna Maria College.

The Nor'easters return home to face Endicott College the same day (6 p.m.). With Regis College and Salve Regina University suffering setbacks on the day, the winner of Tuesday's match will stand alone in first place atop the league standings.